The only feeling better than being on holiday is the feeling of getting it for a bargain price. The good news is that it’s not only our friendly local travel agent that can seek out the best deals to some of the hottest destinations. Look in the right places, and there’s a wealth of information for holidaymakers wanting to beat the system and pay less for their flight.
Whether it’s something as easy as signing up to a newsletter or flying a longer route for a bigger discount, the Flexicover team has gathered up some of the canniest ways to ensure a well-priced seat to make that holiday fund stretch further.
Check flight aggregators
One of the many joys of the internet is that it’s now easy peasy to compare the price of flights from different agencies, as well as the flight operator themselves. Sites like Google Flights and Skyscanner allow holidaymakers to punch in their origin, destination, preferred dates and times. It then produces a list of flights and prices, allowing an informed decision about that all-important balance between convenience, price and quality. Flight aggregators are the simplest way to bring down the cost of your flight, though when booking from a new online travel agent whose prices seem too good to be true, it’s wise to do your research and have a close look at their terms and conditions first.
Set up a price alert
There’s even better news for users of flight aggregators. Many of them offer a price alert service, where they’ll email you to track the price of your flight, which is especially useful when airlines offer flash sales. These take place when they need to stimulate sales to meet business forecasts. Often, they take place without much notice and for short periods at a time, so unless you’re extremely lucky with your timing, price alerts are the best way to catch these and save a little extra money for holiday cocktails.
Sign up to a cheap flight newsletter
Another option to take advantage of sudden dips in pricing is to sign up to a newsletter collated by travel enthusiasts. They scour the best flash sales, pricing errors and deals and compile it in one easy-to-read newsletter. Examples include Jack’s Flight Club, Holiday Pirates and Scott’s Cheap Flights. They send emails when there are juicy bargains to be had, and they let you know what the discount is and how long the lowered prices are likely to last. Warning: the deals they surface are a little too tempting. You could find yourself jetting off on an unexpected holiday to Zanzibar before you know it!
Bag a last minute deal
It’s a frustrating business model for those willing to go on an extra holiday at the right price, but the days of bagging a cheap flight at the last minute is over. Luckily, there’s one exception to the rule, and it’s TUI, the world’s largest tour operator. Because they charter flights for their package holidays, they’re more willing to offer knock-down prices on seats that would otherwise go to waste. Check tui.co.uk/flight/deals for the latest bargains, which begin reducing in price a month before departure. The more flexible you can be with your destination, duration and dates, the more chance you’ll have of picking up a great deal. From many UK airports, Europe flights are often £60 return, while long-haul can be just £270.
Get ready to connect
Flights from the UK don’t offer the best deals, as the nation has a large customer base and it’s such a hub for flights. If you’re willing to fly with another major carrier and connect on their home turf, seats become much cheaper. For example, flying from London to Cape Town in June costs £753 (at the time of writing) when flying direct with British Airways. But you can save £300 with Ethiopian Airlines if you don’t mind stopping off at Addis Ababa – that’s nearly a half-price ticket for a couple extra hours each way – surely worth the hassle.
Wherever you plan on head to this year it’s good to know that Flexicover Travel Insurance is committed to providing you with the highest level of protection to ensure you’re safe and secure 24 hours a day when away.
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